Watercraft lifting fin

Abstract

A pontoon for providing buoyant force to a floating craft comprises a barrel having front and rear ends and a fin extending outwardly from an outer surface of the barrel. The fin includes a first portion and a second portion positioned rearwardly of the first portion. The first portion extends at least generally parallel with or coincident with a lateral, horizontally extending centerline of the barrel. In order to enhance stability, improve handling, and/or inhibit motor cavitation, the second portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly relative to the rear end of the first portion. Also disclosed is a pontoon boat fitted with fins on the pontoons and/or on the transom.

I claim: 
     
       1. A pontoon boat comprising:
 (A) a hull having a bow and stern; 
 (B) an outboard motor operatively attached to the hull by a transom, the outboard motor having a propeller; 
 (C) at least two laterally spaced pontoons extending at least a majority of an entire length of the hull and supporting the hull and the outboard motor on water; and 
 (D) a fin extending outwardly from a portion of each pontoon that extends into the water, the fin including a first portion and a second portion positioned rearwardly of the first portion, the second portion being inclined downwardly and rearwardly relative to the first portion and positioned so as to provide lift and to channel water toward the propeller. 
 
     
     
       2. The pontoon boat according to  claim 1 , wherein each pontoon has a barrel having front and rear ends, and wherein the fin on each pontoon extends outwardly from an outer surface of the barrel, the first portion of the fin extending at least generally parallel with or coincident with a lateral, horizontally extending centerline of the barrel. 
     
     
       3. The pontoon boat as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the fin on each pontoon extends linearly along at least substantially an entire extent thereof at an angle of between 5 degrees and 15 degrees relative to the lateral centerline of the barrel. 
     
     
       4. The pontoon boat as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the fin on each pontoon comprises a first fin located on an outboard surface of the pontoon, and further comprising a second fin located on an inboard surface of the associated pontoon. 
     
     
       5. The pontoon boat as recited  claim 2 , wherein the barrel of each pontoon is at least generally cylindrical, and further comprising a tapered front portion disposed forwardly of the barrel and having a lateral centerline that extends upwardly and forwardly relative to the lateral centerline of the barrel, and wherein the fin on each pontoon includes a third portion that extends upwardly and forwardly from a front end of the first portion in parallel with or coincident with the lateral centerline of the tapered front portion of the pontoon. 
     
     
       6. The pontoon boat as recited  claim 2 , wherein the fin on each pontoon extends horizontally away from the barrel, and further comprising a lip extending downwardly from an end of the fin that is remote from the barrel. 
     
     
       7. The pontoon boat as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fin on each pontoon is provided on the transom. 
     
     
       8. The pontoon boat as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the outboard motor has a horsepower rating in excess of 115 Hp and weighs in excess of 300 lbs. 
     
     
       9. A pontoon boat comprising:
 (A) a hull having a bow and a stern; 
 (B) an outboard motor operatively attached to the stern of the hull, the outboard motor having a horsepower rating in excess of 115 Hp and weighing in excess of 300 lbs.; and 
 (C) at least two laterally spaced pontoons extending at least substantially a majority of an entire length of the hull and supporting the hull and the outboard motor on water, each pontoon including
 (1) an at least substantially cylindrical barrel having front and rear ends and having a lateral centerline, 
 (2) a tapered front portion disposed forwardly of the substantially cylindrical barrel and having an effective lateral centerline that extends upwardly and forwardly relative to the lateral centerline of the substantially cylindrical barrel, 
 (3) first and second fins extending outwardly from outboard and inboard surfaces, respectively, of the substantially cylindrical barrel and the tapered front portion, each fin including a first, linear portion extending rearwardly from the front end of the substantially cylindrical barrel toward the rear end of the substantially cylindrical barrel along a line extending at least generally parallel with or coincident with a lateral centerline of the substantially cylindrical barrel, a linear second portion positioned rearwardly of the first portion and being inclined downwardly and rearwardly relative to the first portion at an angle of between 10 degrees and 15 degrees relative to the lateral centerline of the substantially cylindrical barrel, and a third portion that extends upwardly and forwardly from a front end of the first portion in parallel with or coincident with a lateral centerline of the tapered front portion of the pontoon, wherein each fin extends horizontally away from the substantially cylindrical barrel, and further comprising a lip extending downwardly from an end of each fin that is remote from the substantially cylindrical barrel. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The pontoon boat recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the fin on each pontoon is a first linear portion and the second portion is a second linear portion. 
     
     
       11. The pontoon boat recited in  claim 2 , wherein the fin on each pontoon is formed from extruded aluminum. 
     
     
       12. The pontoon boat recited in  claim 11 , wherein the fin on each pontoon is mounted to an external surface of the barrel. 
     
     
       13. The pontoon boat recited in  claim 12 , wherein the fin on each pontoon is integrally formed with a mount, and the mount is welded to the barrel. 
     
     
       14. The pontoon boat recited in  claim 9 , wherein the linear second portion of each of the first and second fins of each pontoon is inclined downwardly and rearwardly relative to the first linear portion and is positioned so as to provide lift and to channel water toward the propeller.